How does your Garden Grow?

Today Miss Joely the monkey helped me in the Garden. She was quick to grab a shovel and really wanted to dig up the tomato plants. I had to tell her no. She rolled her eyes dropped her shoulders and sighed "MOMMY!!!" she got over it and began climbing on her swing set.

These pictures go out to my friends of the Northland who are getting dumped on by snow and cold. We planted our tomatoes, cucumbers and bell peppers about a month or so ago- look how great they look!

And this is my first attempt at straweberries- look we already have one turning red. Alice and I are soooo excited about it!

Alice is soo excited that I used the three R's- Reduce Reuse and Recycle to make my strawberry pots. I had received FREE (can you beleive it) these used tires. I got them two years ago for a scout activity that never came to fruition. They've been a harvesting ground for mosquitos and now they are pots for my strawberries and cilantro. I have one left and we'll plant some Flowers in them. I think Robert may be dissapointed to not have them to complain about anymore.

Yesterday I fruitlessly drove out to Liberty, TX (the first city on the Trinity, established in 1831) to take Joely's picture in the bluebonnets. Some nurses at work said there were bluebonnets everywhere- Joe and I never found them, so we came BACK to Crosby and took pictures at our duck pond- look how adorable she is!!! She's wearing an amazing dress that's an actual heirloom, I hesitate to say hand me down -- First Harper Moulton wore it, our dear friend in Laredo. She was 4 1/2- then when Alice was 2 1/2, Harper gave it to her. And now Joely wears it. Miracle of all Miracles, I even have the original shoes. The original easter bonnet didn't make all the moves, but I treasure this dress. When Harper has a little girl, I'll send it on to her and since I know she's responsible like her mom, she'll send it back to my girls for their girls to wear. When I see the girls in this dress I am reminded of what great blessings we received as a result of our friendships with the Moultons. I'll always cherish Trevor and the kids, but it's thinking of Heather that makes me cry! I miss her so much, we had so much fun laughing and goofing off and of course myriad spiritual experiences in Laredo. Now they live the good life in San Diego, California. I just keep hoping the international business will bring them back to Zion and specifically the greater Houston Area.

For now I just have the dress and the memories
So here is our little cute patootie

Takin' a Break, Easter Style

SMOKIN'

Robert wanted a smoker for his birthday, but he got an outdoor fireplace instead. Quentin picked it out. So THANKFULLY Robert's grandma and my parents gave him money so he could get what he really wanted and this passed week I finally went to Lowe's and picked it up. He spent Saturday and Sunday smoking various meats. It was a great weekend foodwise and Robert was awesome learning the tricks of his new trade.

Keeping up with the Mullens family tradition of sometimes following tradition, the girls and I dyed eggs. Quentin was the camera man. David would have participated but it was hard enough for Joely to take turns with ALice, if she would have had to wait for two turns, she may have given birth to a cow! Poor Baby, it's hard to be two.

And as always the Hunt. It's no so much the Kill, but the thrill of th Hunt. Joely was more interested in the chocolate bunny left in her basket than finding the eggs. But when she realized they had more candy she got into it. Everyone loves an easter egg hunt, Even Sammi Jo got into the fun. The "severe weather experts" predicted torrential rain and flooding for Sunday, so we got up early to make sure the hunt would be outdoors. The "torrential" storms were pretty light weight though.

The best news of the Easter Break was finding out that Chuy's is now in Humble, TX not eggsactly in my own backyard but it's closer- so we had Easter Monday Lunch, courtesy of Chuy's! YEAH CHUY's

More to Come- Taking the cubscouts to juvenile court to see Judge Tony Polumbo in action

Reminiscings on the beautiful blue dress Joely wore for Easter (hey she even stayed in nursery all by herself-good times)

Hope all is well!